Plow-lift.



J. M. DENNING.

PLOW LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. M. DENNING.

\ PLOW 1.1m

APPLICATION libill: OUT.

Patented May 5, 1914.

4 SHEETS-532! 1% G i a ans:

c o a J. M. DENNING.

PLOW LIFT.

APPLI GATION FILED OCT. 3. 1912.

LGQEZSZQ v Patented May 5, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Wit 2']? 6365 6. S 1711 6 72-60 7" y 56 WNW 119222? 27 9' J. M. DENNING.

PLOW LIFT.

AYILIOA'HON 7mm 0013,1912.

1,095,824. Pa ented Mayfi. 1,914.

*1 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' position.

JOSEPH M. DENN ING, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PLOWLIFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed October 3, 1912. Serial No. 723,801.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. 'DENNING, acitizen of the. United States, residing at Denver, in the county ofDenver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Plow-Lifts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a means for raising the plow bodies outof plowing position and lowering the same into plowing The objects ofthe present invention are to .provide a single crankfor actuating saidplow lift.; to so arrange the parts as to have the plow enter the groundpoint down; to throw the point of connection between the crank and theparts connecting the crank with the plow body, past the center ofmovement of the crank, when the crank is fully thrown to raisedposition; whereby the plow is locked in raised position; to provide alevel-attached to the front end of the plow beam, to provide a shiftablefulcrum for this lever; and to provide a connection between the leverand the crank and to provide means for adj usting this connection.

The invention further consists in the features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a traction plowequipped with the mechanism of the present invention and with the engineor propeller removed; F ig. 2 a .plan view of the part shown in Fig. 1;Fig. 3 a detail of the plow lifting mechanism showing the plow inlowered position; Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the plowraised; Fig.5 a section on line-55 of Fig. 2, looking in the directionof the arrows; and Fig. 6 a detail of the mechanism for leveling theframe.

The plow lift for illustrative purposes only is shown with a tractionplow comprising side rails 7 and 8 joined together by a front rail 9.a'rear rail 10, and lying between the side rails and extending from thefront rail to the rear rail is an intermediate rail '11, all of therails being preferably of tubular formation which is of a nature to givestrength and durability to the frame-work without making the weight ofthc'implement of undue proportions. .Tournaled upon the framework isa'traction wheel 12, 91 suitable size and formation which is driven by amotor, not shown, through the instrumentalities of suitable gearing 135'Attached to the side rail 8, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is a frame14, which constitutes a carrying frame for an auxiliary wheel 15 lyingapproximately opposite the traction wheel. This auxiliary wheel servesas an added bearing for the rear end of the frame, so that when thedevice is working upon a hillside, the tendency of the rear end to tipwill be overcome. The auxiliary wheel is raised and lowered through t emedium of a lever and segment mechanis 1 16, to the lever of which isconnected a crank arm 17 which in turn is. joined to a linkor bar 18,connected at its rear end to the upper end of the frame 14. Theconnection .between the link and frame is of the slot and pin variety,so that a certain amount of play is permitted between these two parts,and bearing against thelink and the upper end of the frame 14 is aspring 19 which tends to resist relative movement between the link andframe, and forms in effect a resilient connection between the frame andlink. Should the wheel 15 be lifted, the frame 14 would swing around itspivotal center, and the upper end would be forced against the spring 19,and owing to the slot and pin connection between the frame and link orbar the movementof the frame would not disturb the position of the link,and hence the movement due to the rising of the auxiliary wheel wouldnot be communicated to thesupporting frame of the machine. Should thefront wheels be lifted from the ground. by striking anjobstacle theauxiliary wheel would not be affected thereby and would provide an addedsupport so that the frame would not tip over.

Should it be desired, however, to adjust'the height of the wheel 15, thelever, after'a predetermined movement, would sufficiently compress thespring 19, so as to force the frame 1 1 and the wheel 15 downward inaccordance wit he rearward movement of the link 18, and if a raising ofthe wheel 15 were desired the lever, when moved in the oppositedirection, would pull the linkforward, and inasmuch as the pin isnormally resting against the rear end of the slot said forward movementwould pull the frame 14 upward, and raise the wheel 15.

These movements, of course, if desired, could be utilized for levelingthe rear end of the frame since pressure when'brought to bear upon thewheel 15 when it was resting upon the ground would not disturb theposition of the wheel but would efi'ect a tilting and leveling of theframe. This fact is-well ,lw'ibwn to those acquainted with the plow art.

The implement is provided at the front end thereof with suitablesteering wheels 20, each of which, in the construction shown as bestillustrated in Fig. 5, is provided with a trunnion which terminates atits inner end in a block or head 21, through which passes a verticallyextending pivot pin 22, which also passes through ears 23 secured to theouter ends of the front axle 24, each of the steering wheels, as shown,being provided with a circumferential rib or flange '25 to better insureits grip, upon the ground. The

axle 24 has secured thereto anupwardly extending'lug 26 pivotallysecured to a lug 27 depending from the front rail 9. This pivotalconnection permits of an upand down tilting of the axle in accordancewith the movement of the wheel over the ground,

arid this pivot orgie provides the center of movement when an adjustmentor leveling 'ofthe frame is desired. The mechanism shown. for effectingthis adjustment consists of a link 28 secured to an car 29 attached to aportion ofthe axle 24. The link in turn is pivotally connected to apivoted arm 30 having pivotally attached to its upper enda sleeve 31provided with an interior thread, and extendingthrough this sleeve 31 isa threaded stem 32 having a bearing in a; sleeve 33 secured to asuitable support 34 attached to the side rail 7. The stem 32 is providedwith a suitable handle 35 for rot-ating the same. The action of thismechanism will be obvious from the description: Ro-

cation of the handle 35 in the direction desired rotates the stem. 32,moves the sleeve 31 along saidstem, moves the crank arm 30 up or downabout its center, raises orlowers the I link 28 and efiects the properleveling of the frame, by reason of the fact that the wheels 25 areresting upon the ground and will not be affected by the movements of theleveling mechanism. Of course, should one or the other of the wheels beupon arhigher plane the lowering of one of the wheels would take placewhen the rod 32 was properly turned.

The means illustrated for effecting a steer ing of the wheels 25consists of a steering rod 36 provided with the and terminating in itslower end in aworm surface 37, about which is wrapped a cable 38connected to each of the blocks 21 of the trunnions of the wheel.

It is, of course, necessary to provide some suitable means for raisingand lowering the plow body to raise the plow clear from the ground whenthe implement is transported from place to place. .After the plow hasbeen lifted from the ground and is again lowered into plowing position,it is highly attached usual hand-wheel I noeagsaa' I desirable that thefront or point of plow strike thc'ground first, as in this position, itwill more easil be dragged into preper plowing position the forwardmovement of the implement. The mechanism shown for efliectingthe-raising and lowering of the plow consists of-a. crank journaled insuitable bearings 4O attached to the rails 7 and 11.. The crankisactuated by a lever 41 which is locked in position to hold the plowraised throughthe instrumentalities of a dctent adapted to engage witha. tooth of a segment 42'. Attached-to the rear portion of the crank .43is a link 44,-which is secured by suitable means to the rear portion ofthe.

plow 45, and attached to an arm46-of the crank at a point intermediatethe center of movement of 'the crank and the arm.43-

thereof is a clip or ear 47, to the upper end of which is pivotallysecured one end of aa link or bar 48.

The other end of the link or bar is secured to the upper portion of aplate 49 which in this lever is pivotedat 50 to a member 50 which memberis slidably mounted on a rod Themember 50" furnishes what may be termedashift-able fulcrum for the lever 49. I

The rod 53 is attached at one end to a member 50, which member pivotallysecured to'a stem 50,which stem in turn attached to a plate, 51securedgto the front rail 9 of the supporting fra e. Pivotally to thelower portion of said plate or lever 49 is the front end of the plowbeann52, and the rod 53'is pivotally confact is a bell crank lever;

nected at its-other end to said plow. beam.

The action of this portion of the de'vicewill probably be bestunderstood .by referring to Figs. 3 and 4t the-normal position beingshown in Fig. 3, and as will be there seen, the crank 9 is normallylying in a substantially hori ontal plane. As the lever 41 is turned toswing the crank upward the link 44 will be swung upward carrying with itthe rear end of the plow, and the clip 47 will be pushed upward andforward forcing the link48 forward, swinging the plate or crank 49u'pward,'and carrying the forward end of the plow ,beam 52 upward. Owingto the fact that the clip 47 is located closer to the center of movementof the crank than the link 44, said link will, upon initial movement ofthe crank, travel a greater distance than the clip 47, and at thecommencement of the plow lifting operation the rearend of the plow willbe carried up faster than the front end: When, however, the link 47 hascrossed the center of movemnt of the crank 3 upward movement of the link44 and the rear end of the plow will cease andv the link 44 will beginto descend and. lower the rear end. This will occur during the lat- Ithe crank is reached a relatively short time after the link .44 hasreached its highest tween said mem point, but the movement after thelink has passed the center is sufiicient to allow a continued raising ofthe front end of the plow beam, while the rear of the plow is beinglowered, so that when the parts finally reachv the final position, thelow is in a level or substantially level position. WVhen the descent ofthe plow takes place, there will be no movement downward of the rear enduntil the crank at has fallen back past the axial center of the crank39, and henceflon the initial return movement of the crank, the rear endwill not descend, but will instead rise. The plate 49, however, will bepulled backward at the commencement of the movement of the crank, and,therefore,

- the front end of the plow'beam will be lowered at the commencement ofsaid movement; thus when the rear end starts to be lowered, the plowwill be at an angle so that the front end is pointing toward the ground,and the plow will enter the ground in this position. Then, as themachine is propelled forward, the drag. of the plow will pull the rearend downward and into plow ing position. An adjustment of the length ofthe link 48 is provided by forming a plurality of holes 56 at the frontend of said link, the shortening or lengthening of this link regulatingthe depth to which the plow enters the ground.

I claim: I I 1. In a plow, the combination of a supporting frame a plowbody, a crank on said frame, a member pivotally connected to the frontend of the low body, a connection be her and crank, a movable rod, aslidable connection between said member and rod, aconnection between therear end of the plow body and the crank, the connection between the rearend of the plow body and the crank and the connection between thepivoted member and the crank bein located at different points upon thecran: with respect to the center of movement thereof, substantially asdescribed. 2. In a plow, the combination of a supporting frame, a plowbody, a crank on said frame, a member pivotally connected to the frontend of the plow body, a connection between said member and crank, amovable rod, a slidable connection between said member and rod, aconnection between the rear end of the plow body and the crank, theconnection between the rear end of the plow body and the crank and theconnection between the pivoted member and the crank being located atdill'erent points upon the crankwith respect to the center of movementthereof, and means for adjusting the length of the connection betweenthe crank otally connected to the front end of the plow 7 body, a crankcarried by the frame, a ton nection between said pivoted member andcrank, a rod pivoted to the plow beam and to the forward end of thesupporting frame, a slidable connection between said pi 'Iittl memberand rod, a connection betwerr the rear end of the plow body and the zmh,said connection from the. pivoted rmmher and said connection from therear end of the plow body being located at different points upon thecrank with respect to the (cuter of movement thereof, substantially asdescribed.

at. In a plow, the combination of a supporting frame, a plow body, amember pivotally connected to the forward end of the plow beam, aswinging rod, a slidable connection between said pivoted member and rod,a crank mounted on said frame, a lug on the crank, a link pivotallyconnected at one end to said member and pivotally connected at the otherend to said lug and a connection between said crank and the rear end ofthe plow body, substantially as described.

5. In a plow, the combination of a supporting frame, a plow body, acrank on said frame, a connection between said crank and the forward endof the plow body, a member directly connecting the crank and'the rearend of the plow body, the point of connection between the crank and theforward end of the plow being-located closer to the center of movementof the crank than thepoint of connection between the crank and themember connecting the crank with the rear end of the plow body and bothpoints of connections swinging past the center of movement of the crankwhen the crank is fully swung substantially as described.

6. In a pl porting frame, a plow body, a crank on said frame, aconnection between said crank and ow, the combination of as'upforwardend of theplow, means for directly connecting the crank andthe rear end of the plow, the point of connection between the crank andthe forward end of the. plow being located closer to the center ofmovement of the crank than the connection between the crank and theconnecting means to the rear end of the plow, both of said points of 2connections swinging past the center of movement of the crank when thecrank is fully swung and means for adjusting the length of theconnection between the crank and the front end of the plow,substantially as described.

7. In a plow,='tl1e combination of a supporting frame, a-plow body, alever pivotally connected to the front end of the plow,

a shiftable fulcrum for said lever, a crank, a

connection between said lever and the crank and a connection between therear end of the plow and the crank, substantially as tlescribed. v 1 8.in a plow. lhc conihination'of a supporling :lra1n15,'a plow body, alover pivotally connected to the front end of'tlie plow, a ehiftahlefnlci'llin tor said lei'cr, a crank, a connection hclnvcenythe lover andcrank,

10 a connection between the rear end of the, plow and the crzmk andmeans for ad usting lthe'length of the connection between the crank andthe lover, substantially as described.

15 9. In a plow,- the coi'n'hination of a supat its other end directlyto the rear end of the plow body, substantially as described. 25

v JOSEPH M. DENNING, lvitnesseez v i l J. L. MA'rrsoN, N. J. TUB-rpm.

